Accessibility

Chance meeting leads to nonprofit receiving vehicle

HEMET, Calif. — A chance meeting between the executive director for the nonprofit Veterans Alliance of Southern California and a Hemet City Councilwoman at a cold-weather shelter led to the group’s selection as a recipient of a surplus transit bus from Riverside Transit Agency to take veterans to medical appointments, reported The Press-Enterprise.

The Veterans Alliance expects to pick up the 2008 Eldorado Aerostar bus later this month, which replaces a seven-seat van without wheelchair access that broke down. It seats 12, including two wheelchair spots, and is equipped with a wheelchair lift. For the full story, click here.

The decision was a win for disability rights activists who pressed WMATA officials to avoid companies such as Uber, because they lack vehicles with wheelchair-ramps and have been sued for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The agency was able to send five vehicles for the transport of 10 wheelchair passengers from a medical facility in Corpus Christi, Texas to a shelter in San Antonio. They are also offering free passes and travel training to those people that are in shelters in Austin.